Developing a Biblical Worldview
By: DeBBIE BrEYMAN, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-8
At Perimeter School, we want every student to have a biblical worldview grounded in God’s truth in every subject area that is taught in dynamic, enriching, integrated, and immersive ways.
However, we all recognize that this inspiring goal is very challenging because we are constantly fighting against a culture that has an extremely invasive and deceptively attractive worldview that enters our homes and schools in many subtle ways. And if that is not enough, we are also dealing with the sin of our own hearts as well as in the hearts of our precious children.
So … what can we to do?
BE AWARE
First, we need to BE AWARE.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
As Christ followers, we are called to be aware of the daily battle not only in our minds but especially in our hearts and souls. Our enemy is very real and is always seeking to devour and destroy.
BE HONEST
Second, we need to BE HONEST.
We cannot expect to teach students nor our own children to have a biblical worldview unless we truly evaluate the depths of our own hearts in understanding if we are truly aligned with God’s thoughts. According to author Dr. Roger Erdvig, “A person with a true biblical worldview is one who thinks, desires, and acts in ways that are consistent with God’s thoughts, desires, and actions.” How we think will affect how we feel, which in turn, will affect our actions. Thus, it is important to have our heads, hearts, and hands aligned with God.
In our school verses, we are given many truths to cling to as we examine this issue.
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
1 Peter 1:13-16
Evaluating the depths of our own hearts first begins with evaluating how we are preparing and girding our minds. We should be informed by biblical truth from Gods’ Word; however, we naturally pick up bad habits and beliefs without even realizing it. To prepare and gird our minds we need to learn how to “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
As the “thought arrows” rapidly enter our minds, we need to intentionally take them captive. Two essential pieces of the spiritual armor we need to wear constantly are the Helmet of Salvation (Gospel) and the Belt of Truth (Jesus). Our thoughts that are not godly need to be destroyed … lies about God, ourselves, and others. Being saturated in God’s Word will help us to combat these arrows as we reflect on the truth of God’s character.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth … and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, always praying in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…”
Ephesians 6:10-18
Peter also reminds us to be sober-minded, which is often difficult. “Our minds are dangerous neighborhoods; we should never go there alone,” as Anne Lamott, the novelist, stated. Keeping sober-minded requires us to be disciplined, controlled, aware, alert, and to cast down imaginations and things that are not true.
“Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:2
This daily battle that starts in our mind, moves quickly to our hearts and eventually our behavior. As educators and parents, it is quite easy to just react to whatever is happening around us rather than pausing and responding in a godly manner. The thermometer/thermostat leadership model illustrates this very well. A thermometer measures the temperature of a room, and a thermostat regulates the temperature. Those with thermometer attitudes and behaviors simply reflect what is happening around them, changing as only those around them change. Whereas, a thermostat regulates and proactively brings changes around them.
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Colossians 4:5-6
Of course, trying to control our heads, hearts, and hands is virtually an impossible task on our own; however, God gave us His Holy Spirit, our Helper to enable us to abide in Christ and be filled with His Spirit.
“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 14:26